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Atmospheric carbon dioxide through the Eocene–Oligocene climate transition

Author

Listed:
  • Paul N. Pearson

    (School of Earth and Ocean Sciences, Cardiff University)

  • Gavin L. Foster

    (Bristol Isotope Group, University of Bristol)

  • Bridget S. Wade

    (Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843-3115, USA)

Abstract

Ice cap fits CO2 reduction Around 34 million years ago at the Eocene–Oligocene transition, the Earth entered a global cooling phase that brought the rapid development of a continental-scale ice cap and associated sea level fall. It is generally accepted that declining CO2 levels were an important factor in this shift from a greenhouse to our current icehouse climate, but the precise relationship between CO2 and the genesis of the Antarctic ice sheet is not fully understood. Paul Pearson and colleagues use boron isotopes from exceptionally well preserved carbonate microfossils from a recently discovered geological section in Tanzania to estimate atmospheric CO2 levels before, during and after the Eocene–Oligocene transition. They find that CO2 dipped below levels thought to generate ice sheet development but then rebounded significantly before declining again. These results confirm the central role of CO2 in the development of the ice sheet and highlight the nonlinear response of the ice sheet to changing CO2 concentrations.

Suggested Citation

  • Paul N. Pearson & Gavin L. Foster & Bridget S. Wade, 2009. "Atmospheric carbon dioxide through the Eocene–Oligocene climate transition," Nature, Nature, vol. 461(7267), pages 1110-1113, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:461:y:2009:i:7267:d:10.1038_nature08447
    DOI: 10.1038/nature08447
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    Cited by:

    1. Isabel Sauermilch & Joanne M. Whittaker & Andreas Klocker & David R. Munday & Katharina Hochmuth & Peter K. Bijl & Joseph H. LaCasce, 2021. "Gateway-driven weakening of ocean gyres leads to Southern Ocean cooling," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 12(1), pages 1-8, December.
    2. Katharina Hochmuth & Joanne M. Whittaker & Isabel Sauermilch & Andreas Klocker & Karsten Gohl & Joseph H. LaCasce, 2022. "Southern Ocean biogenic blooms freezing-in Oligocene colder climates," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-10, December.
    3. Luigi Dallai & Zachary D. Sharp, 2024. "A tipping point in stable isotope composition of Antarctic meteoric waters during Cenozoic glaciation," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-7, December.

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